PEKHON DIOCESE

Diocesan Officials A. Ordinary of the Diocese Bischop Peter Hla was born on Jan. 15, 1952, in Hwari Khu, Pekhon Township. He was ordained a priest on Mar. 18, 1981. His episcopal ordination was on Dec. 15, 2001. He was elected Bishop of Pekhon on Dec. 15, 2005, and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Taunggyi. His installation as Bishop of Pekhon took place on April 1, 2006. Address: c/o Sacred Heart Cathedral, Nyaung Kone (2) Qtr., Pekhon 06061, Southern Shan State, Myanmar Phone: 095(01) 4410 354, 095(081)50451. Ex. (46) Email: peterhla@gmail.com B. Other Diocesan Officials Vicar General: Father Aniceto Dereh Day Address: c/o Sacred Heart Cathedral, Nyaung Kone (2) Qtr., Pekhon 06061, Southern Shan State, Myanmar Phone: 095(01) 4410 411, 095(081)50451. Ex. (46) Chancellor: Father Angelo Tin Procurator: Father Giovanni Ngwe College of Consulters: · Bishop Peter Hla Ordinary · Father Aniceto Dereh Day Vicar General · Father Leone Larai Parish Priest of Hwarikhu · Father Paul Than Parish Priest of Mobye · Father Giovani Khu Ngwe General Procurator · Father Marko Mg Mg Parish Priest of Santa Maria Diocesan Pastoral Council · Bishop Peter Hla President · Father Aniceto Dereh Day Vicar General · Father Angelo Tin Chancellor · Father Giovanni Ngwe Procurator · Father Giovanni Ngwe Rector of Seminary · Father Paul Than Vicar Forane of Pekhon Zone · Father Marko Mg Mg Vicar Forane of Santa Maria Zone · Father Romualdo Be‘ Assistant priest of Mobye · Father Edward Nan Director of St. Joseph’s Brothers · Sister Senior Sister of Reparation (women religious) · Sister Senior Zetaman Sister (women religious) · Brother Senior St. Joseph Brother (men religious) · Chairman Catholic Action (father’s association) · Chairman St. Anne (Mother’s association) · Chairman Daughters of Mary Association · Chairman Catholic Youth Association · Chairman Holy Childhood Association · Chairman Director (Pyokhinn Education · Chairman St. Joachim Association · Chairman Holy Rosary Association · Chairman St. Theresa’s Association Presbyterian Council · Bishop Peter Hla Ordinary · Father Aniceto Dereh Day Vicar General · Father Giovanni Khun Ngwe Procurator · Father Paul Than Vicar Forane (Pekhon Zone) · Father Marko Mg Mg Vicar Forane (Santa Maria Zone) · Father Leone Larai Parish Priest of Hwarikhu · Father Angelo Tin Chancellor · Father Edward Nan Director of St. Joseph’s Brothers · Father Mathias Htay Win Director of Catechists htaywinmatthias@yahoo.com Financial Council · Bishop Peter Hla Ordinary · Father Aniceto Dereh Day Vicar General · Father Giovanni Khun Ngwe Procurator · Father Paul Than Vicar Forane (Pekhon Zone) · Father Angelo Tin Chancellor · Father Marko Mg Mg Vicar Forane (Santa Maria Zone) Vicar Foranes (Zonal areas) · Pekhon Zone Santa Maria Zone 1. Pekhon 1. Santa Maria 2. Mobye 2. Hwarikhu 3. Kuntha 3. Han-O 4. Lunke 4. Nanki 5. Hsi Hseng Statistics Catholic Population As of December 31, 2006, Pekhon diocese had 42,018 baptized Catholics, representing 8.3 percent of all 235,000 people in the territory. The diocese had 9 parishes. During 2006, the archdiocese recorded ???? baptisms. People in the Diocese · Baptized Catholics: 42,018 or 8.3% · Members of other Christian denominations (approximate): 2.7%. · Followers of other religions (mostly Buddhists) 75% and some Traditional Athnics 14% B. Diocesan and Religious Priests Diocesan priests: 35 (diocesan all local) Religious priests: none C. Deacons Transitional: 2 Permanent: none D. Religious Brothers, Sisters Religious Brothers: 4 (all local) Religious Sisters: 47 (all locals) E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists Zetamans (Little Evangelizers): 65 Catechists: 142 (120 Salaried, 22 volunteers) but as subsidy only F. Seminaries, Houses of Formation Minor seminary: 1 (Star of Evangelization Minor Seminary, minor seminarians: 65) Major seminary: nil (major seminarians: 15) Zataman Evangelist centre St.Teresa’s Zataman Sisters novitiates in Mobye Parish(Diocesan women religious Congregations ): 1 G. There are 9 parishes in the diocese (click here for details) Diocesan Activities and Organizations Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations Diocesan PMS Pontifical Mission Societies Father Giovani Khun Ngwe Foster Parent Mission Club Father Angelo Tin Liberian & Archivist Father Angelo Tin Commission for Catechists Father Matthias Htay Win Commission for Evangelization & Zetaman Father Beda Mg Lay Commission for Family Father Pasquale Le‘ Commission for Ecumenism Father Edward Nan Commission for Inter-religious dialogue Father Edward Nan & One Lay person Commission for Liturgy & Worship Father Edward Nan Commission for Religious & Formation Father Edward Nan Commission for Education Father Aniceto Dereh Day Commission for Priest and Seminary Father Giovanni Ngwe & Father Kennedy Oo Commission for Justice & peace, migration Father Pasquale Le‘ Commission for Social Communication Father Albert Pho Kwah Commission for Laity Father Edward Nan Youth Director Father Albert Pho Kwah General Procurator Father Giovanni Ngwe Karuna Director Father Elias Ke B. Catholic Educational Institutions None C. Catholic Social Welfare Foundling Homes: 2 Homes for elderly and disabled: 1 Orphanages: 9 (in every parish Youth center: 1 AIDS hospices: nil Youth hostels: nil There are some offices for Socio-economic and social development program, family apostolate, like Catholic Action, St. Anne, Youth, and Daughters of Mary etc… D. Social communications Back ground Pekhon is the new Diocese and the poorest in Communication, transportation and education that block the pastoral development and social and well. Both Spiritual development, Physical development, Intellectual development and social development are important to the Diocese. Many faithful are uneducated that the commission for social communication has to shoulder the responsibility to enlighten them to the awareness of their development is every field which they are able to be and to do. Present Situation There is no proper office and staff as yet. It will be installed very soon. The Communication director is the person to take charge in audiovisual and news and communicating. Contact: apkyouth@gmail.com No Diocesan TV, radio stations Preparing Diocesan website, newspapers, newsletters, magazines and it will be implemented soon. No Church-run cultural centers, media organizations as now The catholic people in the diocese need to be aware of the value of education and the spirit of programs in their hearts for their social development and involvement in the Church. E. Other Church Organizations and Associations Catholic Action: 2,009 members St. Anne’s association: 1,619 members Catholic Youth: 2,441 members Holy Childhood: 2,695 members Mission Rosary Association: 202 members St. Theresa’s Government Employee Association: 130 Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes A. Religious Institutes of Men · St. Joseph’s Brothers B. Religious Institutes of Women · Reparation Sisters/ St. Teresa Sisters General Characteristics of the Diocese Pekhon Diocese is situated in the southern part of Shan State, on the Eastern part of Myanmar. There are 5 townships in the Diocese and they are Pekhon, Pinlaung, Naungtaya, Hsi Hseng and Mawkmai. Pekhon Diocese covers an area of about 10,150 square miles (16240: kilometers), and is mostly hilly and mountainous. It has borders with Taunggyi Diocese in the East and in the North, Mandalay Diocese in the West, Loikaw Diocese in the South and Taungngu Diocese in the South-West. The approximate population in Pekhon Diocese is about 235,000 people. Buddhism is the predominant religion whereas Christianity, animism and a few other religions are the minority. There are many ethnic minorities in Pekhon Diocese; Shan, Paoh, Intha, Kayan, Kayah, and Lisu. Brief History of the Diocese The Diocese of Pekhon where the evangelization works started by PIME Missionaries in the late 19th century, primarily belonged to the Archdiocese of Taunggyi. As the mission territory was far distant and the number of believers was considerably increasing, it was established as a New Diocese by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on December 15, 2005, as a Suffragan of Archdiocese of Taunggyi. It was inaugurated as a new diocese by His Grace Msgr. Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Delegate to the Union of Myanmar on April 1, 2006. Msgr. Peter Hla who was elected as the auxiliary Bishop of Taunggyi in 2001 was installed as its first Bishop on the same day. ...